Indication and control apparatus



Oct. 8. 1946.

H. C. EDDY INDICATION AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l m p R Y 0 i 0 a 2 R Q m& m N 5 F N w 0 m v f NL 1 a. M o w R 5 ME A K 6 H w U R J0 R tE A KT H F #6 6E ma 5 2 /7 J Zzwvw u r 5 M EM my WI 6 4 5 M w a 3 H w I F W W 237% 4 7 N N A tron/vans".

Get. 8, 1940.

H. C. EDDY INDIC ATION AND CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARP/S, K/ECH F05 TEA HARR/s @Awe A 770 QNE K5.

Patented Oct. 8,1 94 1 v v "2 21 724 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INDICATION AND CONTROL APPARATUS Harold C. Eddy, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor'by mesne assignments, to Petrolite Corporation,

Wilmingt n, Dei.,' a corporation of Delawa Application Ma -11, 1937, Serial No. 142,075

- 4Claims. (01.137-68) My invention relates to an apparatus for in: to indicate or control the position of the sur-' dicating and/or controlling, i. e., determining, face. the position of the surface of a body of liquid Another object is to provide a second winding and, more particularly, to a system for controlinductively connected to said' first winding to 5 ling the water level in an electric dehydrator or induce a potential in the first winding to send 5 in a tank containing one or more bodies of liqcurrent through the electrode circuit. uids. r The invention is applicable to various instal- It is an object of the present invention to'prolations but is of particular utility in controlling vide an improved system for indicating and/or the relative amounts of two liquids of different controlling the position of the surface of such a .density present in a container. For instance, if 10 body of liquid. the container retains bodies of oil and water, It is often desirable to control the position of theinvention can be used to indicate or control such-a surface between limits and it is an obthe relative amounts thereof in the container or ject of the present invention to provide a novel to control the position of an interface therebel5 electrical system for. accomplishing this result. tween. --If the liquids inthecontainer are under- Another object of the invention is to provide going gravitational separation, it is diflicult to se-- in such a system, when used for indication or cure a clean interface suitable for indication or control purposes, an electrode means contactible control'purposes. by the liquid as the surface rises, and so ar- It is -an object of the present invention to ess ranged that current will pass through the body tablish an auxiliary interface in a novelly-dis- 20 of liquid, a relatively higher current flowing posed space communicating at its upper end with when the surface is higher than when the surthe lighter liquid in the upper end of the conface is lower. tainer and communicating at its lower end with It is a further obiect'of the invention to prothe heavier liquid in the lower end of the con- :5 vide, in a system for indicating or controlling .tainer.

the position of such a. surface, an electrode struo- When such an expedient is used in conjuncture which can be partially submerged at all tion with a container retai'ning bodies of liquid times and yet be e p s v o a change in POS existing at superatmos'pheric temperature, it has tion of the surface. been found very desirable to correlate the tem- A othe Obje is t0 P de a novel high reperature of the contents of the container and the 30 sistance electrode in such an indication orcontemperature in such a space, and it is an object trol system. of the present invention to dispose such a space With conventional level-control systems which along one upright wall of the container in such p e r m'i has been found h t t -n mannerthat heat is transferred between the :15 control valve opens and closes several times 3 .contents of the container and the liquid. or liqminute. This results in an undue amount of ulds in such a space.

wear and short life and necessitates frequent Further objects and advantages will be made servicing. It is an object of the present invenevident hereinafter. tion to provide a novel electrically-operated sys- By way of example the invention'will be ex- 40 in which the valve opensand closes at longer plai'ned with reference to an electric dehydrator 40 Intervals or time. 7 v 4 v capableof resolving crude oil'emulsi'o'ns to sep- It is another of the inventiim o m' arate the oil'and water phases. 'It will be clear, vide" an electrical system in which the valve will however ih' tn g'utm ym i-1'. not chatter.,;In this connection. the invention s 32223 5551. tifi iittifi $23; iifi?;3I-- Re r mmm -mw s v r trojied 'by the currentfloutingQthiiiugh the elec- -F 99? P F W inmpmtmgihe trode circuit and it is an object or the "invene i a 1 'tion to-proi'ride such asystem. r: is 2 .995 i w 9 r l space :30 Itisafurther object to connect a first windk n on m"?*'7';9 ing m the electrode circuitso that the result- 's- 3 is e ed View 'electrwe ingfluxfvar'ies "with the unrest in "this circuit ructure shown ln-Fls'. 1.

and 'toprovide "'a system wherein this. cha i fii'n fFig. 3i i's'a'sidevif 'of oneitype of v 'flurmovesamemberjinresponseto'theseilux ='wmeh an-'-beusea m conjunction with *th'ein- 05 "changes and-which'movablein'enibermaybe used venuon. I '55 the line .at its upper end by a dome l2 and at its lower end by a bottom wall I3 to provide a space M in which treatment and separation of the emulsion constituents may take place.

The emulsion enters through a pipe l5 and flows radially outward through a passage 16 through a high intensity electric field'established in a treating space I! between upper and lower electrode structures l8 and IS. The details of construction of these electrode structures are not per se a part of the present invention. Suffice it to say that the lower electrode structure [9 is electrically connected to the containerj H which is in turn grounded as indicated by the numeral 20. The upper electrode structure I8 is supportedfrom an insulator 2| and energized by a conductor 22 connected to a high voltage secondary terminal of a transformer 24. The other high tension terminal isgrounded and thus connected to the lower electrode structure i9. This transformer provides a primary winding connected across a supply line, includingconductors 26. and 21.

The action of an electric field thus established is to coalesce the dispersed waterv droplets of the incoming emulsion into masses of sufiicient size to gravitate from the oil. Therewill thus form, in the lower endof the container ii, a body of water indicated by the'numeral 36,- with a body of oil thereabove indicated .by the numeral 3|. liquids of different density undergoing gravitational separatiom- The oil at the, upper end of the container will be relatively pure and the water in the body 30 will be quite homogeneous.

These bodies of oil and water will usually not separate at a definite interface due to the accumulation of a sludge layer therebetween. However, in operating such a dehydrator, it is very desirable to control the position of the surface of-the' body of water. It is not usually essential that the surface be maintained absolutely .constant and the present invention contemplates, in' one of its embodiments, a system for controlling the position of the surface of the body of water between upper and lower positions indicated by ."dotted lines 33 and 36. A change of two or three inches in the position of. this surface is often permissible and distinctly,

advantageous in that the control valve will be operated at much less frequent intervals than if anattempt were made to very definitely control the surface to maintain it at a constant. elevation.

It has previously been proposed todispose an electrode in the space ll to be contacted by the water whe I the surface thereof rises, thiselectrodebeing directly connected in circuit with a source of potential and an electro-magnetic ,valve controlling the withdrawal of water. I

have found that the accumulation of a sludge layer in such a system often prevents the desired control and, in overcoming this diflflculty, I utilize an auxiliary and relatively clean interface The space ll will thus contain two of. The latter embodiment is shown in Figs. 1'

and 2 .in which this space is provided by a channel '39 welded, or other-wise secured, to the upright wall 31.

The upper end of the space 36 communicates with the oil inside the container it through an opening 40, and the lower end of this space com-- municates with the body of water through pipes GI, 42 and .43 when valves and 45 are opened. A pipe 46 permits flushing "of the space 36 when a valve 41 is opened. It is desirable that this space be flushed out at periodic intervals. Usually, flushing every. two or three days is suflicint...

Due to the open communication between the contents of the container H and the upper and lower ends of the space 36, this space will contain superimposed bodies of oil and water separating at a definite. interface. This auxiliary interface will rise and fall withchanges in the relative amounts of oil and water in the container, or with changes in the position of the surface of the water body in the space M. This auxiliary interface thus represents the surface of a body of conducting liquid which can rise and fall in the space 36.

Assuming that emulsion is continuously introduced .into the electric dehydrator In, the position of this auxiliary interface can be changed by properly controlling the outflow of oil or water, or both. In thesystem shown,the oil is withdrawn continuously through a pipe 48, as controlled bya valve 49 and the water is withdrawn; through a withdrawal means, including a pipe 50 communicating with a stand pipe 5| and a discharge pipe 52 which discharges into a funnel 53.

Associated with the withdrawal means is an electro-magnetic valve means 55 which is opened and closed in response to a rise and fall of the level of the water in the space 36.. Such valve means may be connected directly in the pipe 56 or the pipe 5!, but I prefer to position it in a bypass line 51 disposed to by-pass a portion or all of the water around a valve 53, as controlled by the stting of valves 56 and 59.

Various types of electro-magnetic valves-can be used in this capacity. The one disclosed includes a valve member associated with a stem 60 pivoted to an arm 6i which is in turn pivoted to a link 62 so that, when the outer end of the arm 6| is raised, the valve will open. A spring 63 normally retains the valve closed. An electro-magnetic means is utilized to raise the arm GI and is shown diagrammatically as including an armature 65 which is raised when a winding 66 is energized. This solenoid winding is connected by conductors 61' and 66 to the line conductors 26 and 21 and a switch means 10 is disposed in the conductor 61.

Extending downward in the space 36 is a conductor, shown as a rod II. which is preferably adjustable in vertical position by turning nuts I2 threaded thereto. It is insulated from the grounded walls bounding. this space by a bushing 13 and by any suitable means acting to centralize the lower end thereof. Acting-in this capacity is a head I4 carrying outward-extending members 15 formed of insulating material and acting to centralize'the head 14 and an electrode struc- 5 connected a e t shown .II'hIs control means in first winding, 8

tur'e 80 depending therefrom and electrically con.- nected at its upper end tothe rod IL, If an ordinary electrode 'formed of conducting" material is utilized in this capacity and main -tained at a potential above ground, the solenoid winding 66 can be-directly connected inthe elec trode circuit so that current ,willfiow through the water, the electrode and the solenoid winding when the surface of the water first comes into contact with this electrode. I In certain instances,

and particularly on smaller dehydrators operating under pressure, it has been found that such a system will cause chattering or repeated operation of the electro-mag'netic valve. When the valve snaps shut due to separation of the water dehydrator whichcauses th surface of 'the water from the electrode, a surgZs set up inside the g to immediately rise again d contact the electrode and thus-reopen the valve. Various exthereof and thus overcome this difliculty, at

least partially, in the event. that the electrode structure 80 is formed of the usual conducting material. Such a dash pot will alsotend to prevent wire drawing of "the valve 55 and 'will correspondingly increase the life thereof. Even then, however, such a combination may operate the valve 55 several times a minute and may thus be objectionable in many installations.

I prefer to overcome these difficulties arising from surging and too frequent operation of the valve by use of an electrode. structure of novel design and connected by novel means'to the electro-magnetic valve. In this connection, I prefer to use an electrode structure which will send through the water or other liquid contacting same, a current which is relatively larger when the surface .is opposite an upper portion of the electrode structure than when this surface is opposite a lower portion thereof. There are various ways of forming such an electrode structure but the simplest and most satisfactory is to use a high resistance electrodedepending from the head 14 and electrically connected at its upper end to the rod 1 I Such a high resistance electrode is indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 by the numeral 84.. It may be formed of various shapes but I have found it eminently satisfactory to use a rod formed ofhigh resistance material and being several-inches in length. A Zircon rod has been found quite satisfactory as has also a rod formed of carborundum, Electrodes formed of other high resistance material can also be utilized, keeping in mind that the resistance thereof should be correlated with the-desired and permissible vertical movement .of the surface of the water. By way of example, a /;'inch' diameter carborundum rod of a length of about 4; inches and having a resistance of 20,000 ohms at.230 volts A. C. has been found very satisfactory when a potential'of 230 volts is applied thereto, and, in conjunction with a switch which makes and breaks the circuit at different positions in its closing and opening movements, e. g., a switch such as is shown inl igs. 4 and 5, will permit a rise and fall of about 2 inches before moving the valve means 5 5 from opened to closed position or vice versa. g

. In such a system, I prefer, to use a control means constructed as best shown in'Figs. 4

m Fig. 1.

and circuit means .for connecting this'winding I in series circuit with the electrode structure" 88 and thebodyof water in the space 36. As shown,

the circuit means "includes a conductor 81 con- [nected to one terminal ofthe winding '86 and a conductor 8 8connected to the lotherterminal and grounded so as to'be electrically connected to the bodyofwater in'the space 36. Any suitable potential source maybe utilized in this oil"- cuit. With the embodiment showrnthe winding 86 itself, acts-as afpotential'source; potential being induced therein' by a second winding 89 connected to the conductors 26 and 21. It will thusjbe clear that thej rise of the level of the water in the space '36will cause an increase in the amou'nt'of currentflowingin this'circuit. I

I prefer to use -this'change in current in the electrode circuit to actuate the switch 10 and thus controi theactuating circuit; including the solenoid winding 66, 'and thus vary the amount of water withdrawn; A convenient'way of accompushing this result is to use "a control means shown in Figs. 4 and 5. A laminated 'core 9| is mounted to a suitable base in a manner not shown, and the second winding 89 surrounds one leg thereof. Thiswinding' thus sets up a flux which flows around the core 9!. reluctance of this flux path, an upper portion 82 of the core mayfcontain fewerlaminations than the remaining portions.

Extending on opposite sides of the core St is a frame 941 pivoted thereto by pins 85. The first winding 86 is secured to this'frame and surrounds the core 9| to the left of the pivot point, there being an arm 81. extending to the right of this pivot point. This structure thus forms amovable element which is, ineffect, pivoted on the pins 65. It is-so'balanced by use of'a weight 98 that it normally assumes the position shown in Fig. 4. .When anyjcurrent flows through the electrode circuit and thus through the winding v86, 9. resulting flux will be set up by this winding which will react with the flux developed by the magnetic means, including the winding 88,

to set up a member. Preferably, the system "is so constructed that current flowing through the winding 86 will .cause repulsion between thewindings 86 and 88, and move the frame in a clockwise 86 more and more as the current increases. The

position of the arm 91 can thus be used to indicate to the operator the position of the surface in the space".

Movement of the arm 91 can also be used to To increase the force tending to move the movable I actuate the valve in the withdrawal means or may be'othe'rwlse connected to control the positionof the surface of the water in the space 36'. The present invention contemplates various means ofoperatively connecting such amovable element, as hereinbefore described, with -the valvemeans 55. ,One of the most satisfactory methods of accomplishing this result is't'o mount ward toapredetermined position. j I 1 7., The preferred type of switch means 'l fl includes the switch 'meanslll on the. arm 81 so that'the switch means closes when the arm moves downa mercury-contact switch, shown as comprising a glass tube I00 inclined relative to the arm 01 and secured thereto as by clips MI and 02 This type of switch may include two conducting elements I03 sealed in the glass tube I00.to be normally in contact with a body of mercury I04. Retained in position by these conducting elements and positioned therebetween i". an inclined cup member I05fornred' of insulating material and adapted to retain a ,small pool of the mercury even when the switch means is in its position shown in'Fig. 4. Dipping into this small pool of mercury is adownward-extending conducting element I01 also sealed in the tube I00, the conductor elements I03 and I01 being'respectively connected to conductors I08 and I709 which form a part of the conductor 61 shown in Fig. 1.

When the switch is in the position shown in I Fig. 4, there is insufficient mercury in the tube I00 to cover the lowermost lip of the inclined cup I05 so that the small pool of mercury therein is not in electrical contact with the main pool of mercury in the tube. However, when the arm 91 moves downward, more of the mercury will tend to flow into the right-hand end of the tube and the surface thereof will rise upward along the lowermost portion of the inclined cup I05. When a predetermined position is reached, the mercury in the main poolwill flow over the lowermost lip of the inclined cup and thus bring the two pools of mercury into electrical contact to complete the circuit between the conductors I08 and I09. This will in turn energize the solenoid winding 65 from the supply line indicated by 'the conductors 26 and 21', thus causing the valve means 55 to open. Opening of this valve means starts or increases the fiow of water from the container I I and thus tends to lower the surface of the body of water in the space 36. If a high resistance electrode is used, a lowering of this surface will expose successive portions-thereof and make available a greater portion of the high resistance electrode through which the current must move in order to reach and pass through the water. Thus, lowering of the surface will gradually decrease the current in the electrode circuit and will permit the movable member of the switch means 05 to gradually assume its biased position shown in Fig. 4. When this current has decreased a predetermined amount, the pools of mercury will become separated to break the circuit through the solenoid winding 66 and thus permit the valve means 55 to again close.

The action adjacent the high resistance electrode 84 can best be understood by reference to Fig. 3. It will be clear that current flowingin the electrode circuit must move through that portion ofthe high resistance electrode 84 above the surface of the body of water and must flow through the intervening water in order to reach the grounded walls of the space 36, for instance, the channel 39. In effect, such a high resistance electrode providesan upper portion IIO opposite the'desired uppermost position of the surface of the water anda lower portion 'III opposite the desired lowermost position of the surface-of the water, these desired .maximum, positions of the surface being indicated by" the dotted lines II2 and. H3 respectively. Thus, when the surface is opposite the line H2, a greater current will flow due to the fact that the current traverses only the small portion of the high resistance electrode above this line. The resistance thereof is greater than that of the water and thewall 39bounding rise.

cient to close the switch means I0. However, when the surface of the water drops to the level H3, that portion of the water between the lines I I2 and I I3 is no longer available to carry current and the current through the electrode circuit must pass through that portion of the high resistance electrode 84 above the line I I3. The current in the electrode circuit is thus correspondingthis distance is about 2 inches, the. current through the electrode circuit was found to be 21 milliamperes when the surface of the water was at the upper desired position indicated by the dotted line I I2, and was 17 milliamperes when the position of this surface was at the desired lower position'indicated by the dotted line I|3.. This slight. difference incurrent was sufficient to actuate the control means 85 to open and close the switch means 10.

It will be clear, however, that various other electrode structures fall within thescope of the present invention and "can be utilized to send a relatively higher current to the control means 85 when the surface of the water is at itsdesired upper position than when the surface is at its desired lower position. It will further be clear that the high resistance element of the electrode bound one side of an upright space or passage in which the water "or other conducting liquid can With such a system, in which the surface of the water rises and falls between predetermined limits, the valve means 55 will be actuated at less frequent intervals than if an attempt were made to more definitelycontrol the position of the surface. In addition, the valve means 55 will not chatter or develop such surges as will cause th'eswitch means 10 to open and close at quick intervals .until the surge dies out. Thus, in such a system, the dash pot 82 can often be dispensed with, though its use will still serve the desirable function of preventing wire drawing of the valve due to the quick closing thereof.

If the electrode, structure is formed of a rod of metal having high conductivity, the level of the water will change over relatively narrow limits, for the valve 55 will open when the surface of the water first contacts such an electrode and will close when the'surface drops therefrom. In such a system, the. valve means 55 will operate more frequently-and, to prevent the quick opening andclosingof thev valve due to surges, it isdesirable to use the dash pot 82 which slows down of system can be used with success on certain installations, particularly in conjunction with the switch means 85? It will be clear that the invention is not, in all instances, limited to the use of a space 36 sepa rated from the contents of the container throughout its length except at the upperand lower ends thereof. In some instances where sludging tendencies are not serious, the electrode structure 80 can be extended downward in the main bodies of liquids in the container II. For instance, in a large oil tank in which the water separates only very gradually, it is quite possible to extend the rod 'II and the electrode structure 80 downward through the body of oil so that the electrode structure will be contacted by the separated water as the surface thereof rises.

If such a space is used, it is very desirable that it be disposed in heat-transferring relationship with the contents of the container II, and the system shown is adva tageous in this regard. If liquids of superatm spheric temperature are present in the container, this will maintain a correlated temperature in the space 36 and thus be conducive to greater accuracy of control in view of the fact that the coefficients of expansion of oil and water are not identical. Further, heat applied to the space the oil and insures free flow thereof into and along this space. It also decreases the thickness of the film of oil which collects on the surface of the electrode 84 and forms a film which can readily be ruptured by contact with the water to complete or increase the current through the electrode circuit. If desired, the temperature between the contents of the space 38 and the container ll may be better correlated by applying a heat-insulating coating to the external exposed walls bounding this space, as indicated by the layer of heat-insulating material applied to the channel 39 as indicated in Fig. 1 by the numeral It will be apparent that the level of the surface of the body of water can be controlled in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, various means may be the amount of water or other liquid withdrawn through the withdrawal means and for operatively connecting such ameans to the .electrode circuit.

It will also be clear that the invention'is not limited to controlling the position of an interface between bodies of oil and water. The interface between other liquids of different density can be controlled. without departing from the spirit of the invention so long as these liquids are of different conductivity.

Finally, -it should not be understood that the invention is limited in utility to the control of position of an interface between two liquids. It

.can well be used to control the position of the surface of any body of conducting liquid, regardless of whether the medium thereabove is another liquid or gas, such as. well be used to indicate or control the position of thesurface of a body-of water or other conducting or semi-conducting liquid in a tank .or container in which air or other gas is above the liquid.

1. In combination; an formed of avhigh resistance non-metallic material; means for supporting said electrode'structure to extend downwardfrom an oil environment above an'oil-water interface to a water environment belowsaid interface; circuit means for-sendingcurrent in series through that portion of said electrode structure above. said inter- 36 reduces the viscosity of air. The invention canv said circuit changes as the vertical position 'of said interface changes while said electrode is in electrode structure 'ing proportionally to changes in said current; and

face and the body of water below said interface whereby the current in said circuit-increases and which take place while the lower part of said electrode structure is in contact with said body of water whereby said means moves in response to changes in vertical position of said interface.

2. In combination in a device through which liquids flow, a system for controlling the vertical position of an interface formed between two liquids comprising contacting and superimposed bodies of water and ofl, which system includes: an electrode structure comprising a rod of high resistance non-metallic material extending through said interface soas to be in contact with both said oil and said water; an electric circuit including a source of voltage, said water and said electrode being in seriesin said circuit whereby the current in said circuit changes as the ver-* tical position of said interface changes while said electrode is in contact with said all and water; movable means responsive to the current in said circuit; and means controlled by said last named means for regulating said flow .to'change the vertical position of said interface so as to maintain the same between predetermined vertical limits.

terface so as to be in contact with both said 011 and water; an electric circuit including a source of voltage, said water and said electrode being in series in, said circuit whereby the current in said circuit changes as the vertical position of said interface changes while said electrode is in contact with said oil and water; movable means responsive'to the current in said circuit; and means controlled by said last-named means for regulating the discharge of at least one of said liquids to change the position of said interface so as to maintain the same between predetermined vertical limits.

4. In combination in a device from which liquids comprising oil and water are discharged, a system for controlling the vertical position of an interface formed between contacting and superimposed bodies of said liquids, which system includes; an electrode structure of high resistance non-metallic materialextending through said interface so as to be in contact with both said water and oil; an electric circuit including a source of voltage, said water and said electrode being in series in said circuit whereby the current in contact with said oil and water; movable means responsive to the current in said circuit and movmeans controlled by said movable means for discharging one of said liquids when said movable means is in one position and for reducing said discharge when said last-named means reaches another position so as to maintain said interface 70 between predetermined vertical limits. v v" HAROLD-C. EDDY.

non-metallic material extending'through said inz 

